Sycamore Academy in Nottingham awarded British Council’s prestigious International School Award
The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education.
Sycamore Academy’s international work includes a strong connection with international schools in China and Spain. This enables pupils to have a better understanding of the differences in circumstances and cultures that they themselves experience. It also broadens their knowledge around individual and community rights and responsibility, understanding that choices we make as individuals, a community and a nation can have a wider, international impact.
Pupils at Sycamore Academy took part in a poem competition which was shared with their sister school in Menorca.
Sycamore Academy also received Turing Funding of £70,800 which will allow pupils to take part in a student exchange programme in Spain.
On hearing the news that Sycamore Academy had received the award, Paul Worley, Headteacher said, “Being granted the International Schools Award acknowledges our ambition and commitment to providing our children with rich knowledge and experiences of the world. Some of our core values are ‘respect’ and ‘discovery’. This fantastic initiative provides our children with the opportunity to put these into practice as they learn about and experience different cultures, traditions, beliefs, and values. Mrs Aga Hoolahan leads our International Dimension within the school and her passion for languages drives our enthusiasm to embellish our children’s knowledge in order that they become global citizens of the future.”
Preparing pupils to be global citizens
Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: “The school has earned this prestigious award through its inspirational international work and links with schools abroad. The International School Award is a chance for schools to be recognised for their important work bringing the world into their classrooms. This is especially commendable when schools have been deeply affected by the global pandemic. The desire to build on their international work shines through and it is with upmost pride that we celebrate their achievements.
By embedding an international dimension in children’s education, these schools are preparing their students for successful lives in the UK or further afield, empowering them to be global citizens, and are creating vital opportunities in an increasingly global economy.”
The International School Award encourages and supports schools to develop:
An international ethos embedded throughout the school
A whole school approach to international work
Collaborative curriculum-based work with a number of partner schools
Year-round international activity
Involvement of the wider community
The Award is now available worldwide in countries such as Greece, Nigeria and Bangladesh. Over 6,000 international school awards have been presented to successful schools in the UK since the scheme began in 1999.